I-Team: Mayor denies knowing about brother's bad checks

New revelations about the "bad check" scandal involving the brother of Providence Mayor David Cicilline.

By: Jim Taricani | Turn to 10.com
Published: December 10, 2008

PROVIDENCE -- A "bad check" scandal involving Providence Mayor David Cicilline's brother is now reaching directly into the mayor's office, the NBC 10 I-Team reported.

But Mayor David Cicilline on Wednesday denied he knew about the bad checks and blamed his brother, John Cicilline.

John Cicilline, issued two bad checks for $75,000 each to the city in 2006. The $75,000 was to cover an overdue tax bill of John Cicilline's client, Felix Nelson Garcia.

Read Affidavit (.pdf)

When the I-Team broke the story earlier this year, Mayor Cicilline denied knowing anything about the bad checks.

But state police, called in to investigate, filed an affidavit. They interviewed nearly a dozen Cicilline staffers, including former Chief of Staff Chris Bizzacco.

"Bizzacco stated he specifically recalled bringing (Former Director of Administration John) Simmons directly into Mayor David Cicilline's office to discuss the matter. Bizzacco stated he presented the mayor with the circumstances of the insufficient funds check. Bizzacco says Cicilline stated, 'See what you can do to resolve it,'" the affidavit said.

Bizzacco claimed the meeting took place in October 2006.

Mayor Cicilline told the I-Team on Wednesday that he may have had a brief discussion about the check with Bizzacco.

"But what is absolutely not possible is that it was ever brought to my attention that a check had been issued, had been dishonored by bank or bounced in the amount of $75,000 by my brother," Mayor Cicilline said. "I would have immediately intervened."

The mayor blamed his brother for directly or indirectly pressuring his staff to provide cover for his bad checks.

"It has, obviously, put members of my administration in positions they never should have been asked to be put in as the result of the behavior of my brother, John," the mayor said.

State police said Garica's back taxes of $98,000 have not been paid to the city of Providence. The city has obtained a court judgment against Garcia.

State police said the criminal investigation into John Cicilline's two bad checks and Garcia's alleged attempt to get a fraudulent loan is continuing.